1973 Chevy C10 - Slammed ’73

Farm Truck to Fast Truck

Michael Gonzalez, of Visalia, California, shared with us the history of his ’73 square-body and it’s truly a story worth sharing with you. Originally used as a farm truck on the family’s dairy, the beat-up Chevy was brought back to life when Michael decided not to buy a new truck, but rather build this one into something different. The small “427” decal on the cowl hood should help you better understand that his truck is no longer hauling milk around. Laid out on 20-inch wheels with bright orange paint on every body panel, Michael’s truck is the real deal.

Body
Brandon Sisco, of Visalia, California, handled the bodywork, which consisted of shaving the door handles, mirrors, marker lights, and welding in a new tailgate skin, reversed roll pan, and adding Caddy taillights. Danny Fuhrman, of Hanford, California, then stepped in and sprayed the custom-mixed PPG Orange and VW Silver. In the bed, a Bruce Hokey’s bed wood kit keeps the classic truck feel in tact.

Suspension
Really turning heads at truck shows, the C10 is slammed thanks to a 21/2-inch body drop and a front frame that was Z’d 21/2 inches. Belltech 2.5-inch drop spindles work with Slam Specialties’ airbags to drop the nose to terra firma and out back, a 2x4-inch back half uses a forward triangulated four-link with Slam ‘bags to drop the rest of the truck down low. Brandon Sisco is responsible for the trick suspension work. Ken Esajian, at Esajian Wheels in Torrance, California, made the 20-inch custom billet wheels that tuck inside each fender.

Interior
Raul Espinoza, in Visalia, reshaped two seats from a ’63 Impala and then wrapped them in two-tone gray leather and Brandon Sisco modified a GMC Denali center console to create an added creature comfort. Auto Meter gauges are housed in a billet dash cluster. Performance Sound, also in Visalia, added a SAVV head unit after widening the factory radio opening and they then built an enclosure for two JL Audio 10-inch subs behind the seats. Fiberglass kick panels are filled with JL Audio components and a Kenwood amp powers the audio mayhem.

Engine
Underneath the cowl hood lies a 427ci big-block fitted with an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, camshaft, and carburetor. Sanderson headers expel the burnt gases that are quickly exhaled through Flowmaster mufflers fabricated by Advanced Muffler. Billet dress-up items include a flamed air cleaner, valve covers, and wire covers. A built 400 trans sends the ponies to a 3.73 rearend from Randy’s Ring and Pinion. All-in-all, this huge brick goes down the quaretr-mile in 13.5 seconds, which is faster than it ever went around the farm.